Miriam Pacheco, a Grace Brethren International Missions board member, is currently in the Central African Republic, along with missionary Barb Wooler, and they are visiting the orphan care center near Bangui. Many US churches and individuals have sponsored specific orphans in the center, providing for their schooling, food, clothing, and more. Here is part of a report Miriam gave as the team from the Grace Brethren church in Lititz, Pennsylvania, arrived at the orphan center earlier today for the first time. Alexandrine is the African administrator for the orphan center.
“We met with Alexandrine in her office and she was so grateful for the help this team’s church (Lititz, PA) has provided for the Center. They have helped with some of the Center’s security and transportation needs and some of their folks are sponsors of individual orphans. What a joy to see one of those sponsors and orphans meet for the first time.
“Recess was over and we were done meeting with Alx and were walking to the trucks when this little, tiny boy walked up the path ~ Barb recognized him and that he was sponsored by one of the team members. She took Fiacre (fee AWK rah) by the hand and introduced him to John ~ what a special scene.
“Fiacre was beaming, but so shy and overwhelmed he didn’t know exactly what to do. He just stood there and smiled from ear to ear. John was overwhelmed as well. It was truly a special moment. Fiacre has been a very sick little boy and thanks to his being sponsored and to the generous gift of vitamins & supplements (thanks J!), his health has vastly improved!
“He is learning a lot in school and in the process of his being taken care of, he is learning about God’s love and that God will care for him and never leave him. I’ve witnessed several of these sponsor/orphan face-to-face connections and it is a wonderful thing to see.”